S01_ATTACHMENT 2_Weaver_27 pages.pdf

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State Route 502

IN

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ES

S/

EG

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ES

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Microsoft, Vantor, Sources: Esri, TomTom, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community

0 350 700175 US Feet

Norma Weaver WRE

NEST ID 545E3426021NZ

Sec. 35, Washington Twp., Darke Co.

T12N; R1E

Proposed Easement Boundary Map

Weaver WRE Proposal:

15.0 ac.

Darke County Parcels

Location: 40.100572°, -84.732115° Date: 12/10/2025

DRAFT

CCC-505 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

(04-22-15) Commodity Credit Corporation

VOLUNTARY PERMANENT BASE ACRE REDUCTION

1. STATE AND COUNTY

CODE

2. FARM NO. 3. PROGRAM

YEAR

4. REASON FOR REDUCTION OF BASE ACRES

CRP Enrollment

Other

NOTE: The following statement is made in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 USC 552a - as amended). The authority for requesting the information identified on this form is 7 CFR Part 1412, the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714 et seq.), and the Agriculture Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-79). The information will be used to process a request for a permanent reduction of the base acres established for identified crops. The information collected on the form may be disclosed to other Federal, State, Local government agencies, Tribal agencies, and nongovernmental entities that have been authorized access to the information by statute or regulation and/or as described in applicable Routine Uses identified in the System of Records Notice for USDA/FSA-2, Farm Records File (Automated). Providing the requested information is voluntary. However, failure to furnish the requested information will result in an inability to process a request for a permanent reduction of the base acres established for identified crops.

This information collection is exempted from the Paperwork Reduction Act, as it is required for administration of the Agriculture Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 113-79), Title 1, Subtitle F – Administration.

The provisions of appropriate criminal and civil fraud, privacy, and other statutes may be applicable to the information provided. RETURN THIS COMPLETED FORM TO

YOUR COUNTY FSA OFFICE.

PART A - REQUEST

5.

TRACT NO.

6.

COMMODITY

7.

YIELD

8.

BASE ACRES ON

TRACT BEFORE

REDUCTION

9.

TRACT TO BE

REDUCED

10.

TRACT

AFTER

REDUCTION

(Column 8 MINUS

Column 9)

11. Total Base Acres to be Reduced (Total of Column 9)

12. Total Base Acres on Farm Before Reduction 13. Total Base Acres on Farm After Reduction (Item 12 minus Item 11)

14A. Requestor’s Signature (By) 14B. Title/Relationship (of the individual signing in the Representative Capacity)

14C. Date

(MM-DD-YYYY)

15A. Owner’s Signature (By) 15B. Title/Relationship (of the individual signing in the

15C. Date

16A. Owner’s Signature (By) 16B. Title/Relationship (of the individual signing in the

16C. Date

17. REMARKS (If the base acres are being reduced because of cropland enrollment into CRP,enter the CRP-1 number and the effective date of CRP-1).

PART B- APPROVAL (COUNTY OFFICE USE ONLY)

18. REDUCTION IS:

APPROVED DISAPPROVED

19. COUNTY FSA OFFICENAME AND ADDRESS (Including Zip Code)

20. COC'S SIGNATURE DATE (MM-DD-YYYY) TELEPHONE NUMBER (Area Code):

DRAFT

CCC-505 (04-22-15) Page 2 of 3

Non-Discrimination Statement: In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the State or local Agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at https:// www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence

Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Hydric Rating by Map Unit—Darke County, Ohio (Weaver WRE)

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Web Soil Survey National Cooperative Soil Survey

1/12/2026

693000 693100 693200 693300 693400 693500 693600

693100 693200 693300 693400 693500 693600

40° 6' 15'' N

4'

'' W 40° 6' 15'' N

3'

2' ' W

40° 5' 49'' N

4'

'' W

40° 5' 49'' N

3'

2' ' W

N

Map projection: Web Mercator Corner coordinates: WGS84 Edge tics: UTM Zone 16N WGS84 0 150 300 600 900

Feet 0 50 100 200 300

Meters Map Scale: 1:3,960 if printed on A portrait (8.5" x 11") sheet.

Soil Map may not be valid at this scale.

MAP LEGEND MAP INFORMATION

Area of Interest (AOI) Area of Interest (AOI)

Soils Soil Rating Polygons

Hydric (100%)

Hydric (66 to 99%)

Hydric (33 to 65%)

Hydric (1 to 32%)

Not Hydric (0%)

Not rated or not available

Soil Rating Lines

Soil Rating Points

Water Features Streams and Canals

Transportation Rails

Interstate Highways

US Routes

Major Roads

Local Roads

Background Aerial Photography

The soil surveys that comprise your AOI were mapped at 1:15,800.

Warning: Soil Map may not be valid at this scale.

Enlargement of maps beyond the scale of mapping can cause misunderstanding of the detail of mapping and accuracy of soil line placement. The maps do not show the small areas of contrasting soils that could have been shown at a more detailed scale.

Please rely on the bar scale on each map sheet for map measurements.

Source of Map: Natural Resources Conservation Service Web Soil Survey URL:

Coordinate System: Web Mercator (EPSG:3857)

Maps from the Web Soil Survey are based on the Web Mercator projection, which preserves direction and shape but distorts distance and area. A projection that preserves area, such as the Albers equal-area conic projection, should be used if more accurate calculations of distance or area are required.

This product is generated from the USDA-NRCS certified data as of the version date(s) listed below.

Soil Survey Area: Darke County, Ohio Survey Area Data: Version 25, Aug 27, 2025

Soil map units are labeled (as space allows) for map scales 1:50,000 or larger.

Date(s) aerial images were photographed: May 18, 2023—Aug 4, 2023

The orthophoto or other base map on which the soil lines were compiled and digitized probably differs from the background imagery displayed on these maps. As a result, some minor shifting of map unit boundaries may be evident.

Hydric Rating by Map Unit—Darke County, Ohio (Weaver WRE)

Hydric Rating by Map Unit

Map unit symbol Map unit name Rating Acres in AOI Percent of AOI

Br Brookston silty clay loam, fine texture, 0 to 2 percent slopes

90 3.6 24.0%

Ca Carlisle muck 100 3.7 25.0%

CrA Crosby silt loam, Southern Ohio Till Plain, 0 to 2 percent slopes

5 1.7 11.2%

MmB Miamian silt loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes

5 6.0 39.8%

Totals for Area of Interest 15.0 100.0%

Hydric Rating by Map Unit—Darke County, Ohio Weaver WRE

Description

This rating indicates the percentage of map units that meets the criteria for hydric soils. Map units are composed of one or more map unit components or soil types, each of which is rated as hydric soil or not hydric. Map units that are made up dominantly of hydric soils may have small areas of minor nonhydric components in the higher positions on the landform, and map units that are made up dominantly of nonhydric soils may have small areas of minor hydric components in the lower positions on the landform. Each map unit is rated based on its respective components and the percentage of each component within the map unit.

The thematic map is color coded based on the composition of hydric components. The five color classes are separated as 100 percent hydric components, 66 to 99 percent hydric components, 33 to 65 percent hydric components, 1 to 32 percent hydric components, and less than one percent hydric components.

In Web Soil Survey, the Summary by Map Unit table that is displayed below the map pane contains a column named 'Rating'. In this column the percentage of each map unit that is classified as hydric is displayed.

Hydric soils are defined by the National Technical Committee for Hydric Soils (NTCHS) as soils that formed under conditions of saturation, flooding, or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part (Federal Register, 1994). Under natural conditions, these soils are either saturated or inundated long enough during the growing season to support the growth and reproduction of hydrophytic vegetation.

The NTCHS definition identifies general soil properties that are associated with wetness. In order to determine whether a specific soil is a hydric soil or nonhydric soil, however, more specific information, such as information about the depth and duration of the water table, is needed. Thus, criteria that identify those estimated soil properties unique to hydric soils have been established (Federal Register, 2002). These criteria are used to identify map unit components that normally are associated with wetlands. The criteria used are selected estimated soil properties that are described in "Soil Taxonomy" (Soil Survey Staff, 1999) and "Keys to Soil Taxonomy" (Soil Survey Staff, 2006) and in the "Soil Survey Manual" (Soil Survey Division Staff, 1993).

If soils are wet enough for a long enough period of time to be considered hydric, they should exhibit certain properties that can be easily observed in the field.

These visible properties are indicators of hydric soils. The indicators used to make onsite determinations of hydric soils are specified in "Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States" (Hurt and Vasilas, 2006).

References:

Federal Register. July 13, 1994. Changes in hydric soils of the United States.

Federal Register. September 18, 2002. Hydric soils of the United States.

Hurt, G.W., and L.M. Vasilas, editors. Version 6.0, 2006. Field indicators of hydric soils in the United States.

Soil Survey Division Staff. 1993. Soil survey manual. Soil Conservation Service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook 18.

Soil Survey Staff. 1999. Soil taxonomy: A basic system of soil classification for making and interpreting soil surveys. 2nd edition. Natural Resources Conservation Service. U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook 436.

Soil Survey Staff. 2006. Keys to soil taxonomy. 10th edition. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Rating Options

Aggregation Method: Percent Present

Component Percent Cutoff: None Specified

Tie-break Rule: Lower

440 M 527 Subpart E (amended April 2024) 1

Title 440 – Conservation Programs Manual

PART 527 – Easement Common Provisions Subpart E – Appraisal

Amended April 2024

527.40 General

A. This subpart provides NRCS policy on determining easement value using appraisals. Easement valuation policy may also be found in other program policy.

The policy in this subpart and subpart F do not invalidate any other easement appraisal policy unless there is a conflict, in which case the policy in this subpart and subpart F shall prevail.

B. The authorized official must request all appraisal reports or services in writing from the appraiser using the applicable NRCS appraisal specifications and statement of work for the NRCS easement program (see section 527.260). The NRCS appraisal specifications and statement of work may not be changed without the written approval of the NRCS national appraiser. In the rare cases where changes are recommended, contact the NRCS national appraisers at NRCS.NationalAppraisers@usda.gov.

1. For entity-held easements, the eligible entity is responsible for obtaining the appraisal report and providing it to NRCS. The appraisal must identify the eligible entity as the client and NRCS as an intended user.

2. For the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP) – Floodplain Easement (FPE) with residences, the sponsor may obtain the appraisal report.

NRCS must be a client on all EWPP-FPE appraisals. Payment processes for the appraisal are determined by the sponsor agreement.

3. For all other NRCS easement program appraisals, NRCS obtains and pays for the appraisal reports through a contract, purchase card, or agreement. In all cases, NRCS must be identified as the client.

C. All appraisals must comply with NRCS appraisal specifications and statement of work. Appraisals for programs other than the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) and Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) ACEP-WRE must consider the terms of the conservation easement, including the conservation values being protected and the level of restrictiveness of the easement, as applicable. ACEP-WRE and RCPP- ACEP-WRE appraisals determine market value of the area before the conservation easement is placed on the property.

mailto:NRCS.NationalAppraisers@usda.gov

440 M 527 Subpart E (amended April 2024) 2

D. NRCS easement acquisition appraisals must be completed according to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), except as follows. For entity-held easements under the ACEP – Agricultural Land Easement (ALE), RCPP-ACEP-ALE, and RCPP, the eligible entity may:

1. With approval and documented in the program agreement, obtain appraisals completed according to the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions (UASFLA, commonly referred to as the “Yellow Book”).

2. Request to use another industry-approved method that follows program-specific policy and procedures to determine the market value of the easement.

This will be on a project-by-project basis with any other industry approved methods or alternative easement valuation method documented in the program agreement or other EPD approved agreement as appropriate.

E. All appraisals used for acquisition of NRCS program easements must undergo a technical appraisal review (technical review). All technical reviews are obtained or completed by NRCS.

F. NRCS will not accept an appraisal that lists the landowner as the client. The landowner cannot be a party to the hiring or directing of the appraisal assignment.

G. States and the Easement Acquisition Branch (EAB) must submit all appraisals, along with the technical review, to the national appraiser through the Program Activity Management Solution (PAMS) or successor process.

527.41 Easement Programs Division Duties and Responsibilities

A. The Easement Programs Division (EPD) policy branch chief is the valuation authority for NRCS easement programs and relies upon the expertise and professional recommendation of NRCS national appraisers and other EPD experts to provide leadership on easement valuation processes. Easement valuation includes appraisals, Area Wide Market Analyses (AWMA), technical reviews, and, for ACEP-WRE and RCPP-ACEP-WRE only, geographic area rate caps.

B. Appraisals and technical reviews for 2018 Farm Bill RCPP easements require national appraiser review and approval regardless of easement value. For other programs, the NRCS national appraiser reviews and approves both the appraisal and the technical review when the following value thresholds are met.

1. For ACEP-ALE and 2014 Farm Bill RCPP-ACEP-ALE: when the easement value exceeds $3 million.

2. For all other programs: when the appraised value exceeds $1.5 million.

C. Based on the program, NRCS national appraiser approvals must be done as follows.

1. For US-held easements: prior to NRCS making an offer.

2. For entity-held easements with noncertified entities and entity-held easements acquired through a buy-protect-sell transaction or an RCPP alternative

440 M 527 Subpart E (amended April 2024) 3 funding arrangement, regardless of entity certification status: before issuing the federal share of the payment to the eligible entity.

3. For ACEP-ALE and RCPP-ACEP-ALE easements with certified entities using certified entity provisions in the parcel contract, there is no review except as part of the quality assurance review conducted after easement acquisition in certain cases.

Note: Technical reviews and approvals must be done according to subpart F of this part.

D. In order to provide required oversight and maintain a strong control environment, EPD reviews compliance with appraisal requirements on a sampling of appraisals and technical reviews every year. The samples include the first appraisal completed by an appraiser, the first technical review completed by a review appraiser, and at least 10 percent of the appraisals done each year. EPD chooses which appraisals to review.

1. Compliance reviews are conducted after the technical review is completed and are not required before closing.

2. Issues found during the compliance review must be addressed. If the compliance review was conducted before closing, the issues must be addressed before the easement may be closed. If conducted after closing, the issues must be addressed as specified by the EPD Policy Branch.

E. The NRCS national appraisers are the points of contact for NRCS state office staff, EAB, NRCS contracting staff, contracted appraisers, and review appraisers. The national appraisers can be emailed at NRCS.NationalAppraisers@usda.gov.

F. The NRCS national appraisers answer technical questions, interpret appraisal specifications, and provide guidance or action on easement appraisal issues, including but not limited to:

1. Resolving conflicts in technical review specifications and conducting periodic teleconferences with review appraisers.

2. Conducting technical reviews when contract review appraisers are not available or in other circumstances as determined by EPD.

3. Providing guidance for ensuring that the United States is receiving equal or greater economic value for easement administration actions.

4. Providing guidance on the applicability of a particular property to an approved

AWMA.

G. Consult the NRCS national appraiser if there is uncertainty on whether an appraiser is qualified to perform work for NRCS.

mailto:NRCS.NationalAppraisers@usda.gov

440 M 527 Subpart E (amended April 2024) 4

527.42 Appraisal Type

A. There are two types of appraisal reports for NRCS easement programs: market value appraisal reports and conservation easement appraisal reports.

B. For ACEP-WRE and RCPP-ACEP-WRE only: market value appraisal reports provide the “as is” market value of the property on which the ACEP-WRE easement will be placed. The appraisal must comply with USPAP and NRCS ACEP-WRE appraisal specifications.

C. For all non-ACEP-WRE and non-RCPP-ACEP-WRE enrollments: conservation easement appraisal reports are “before and after” appraisals. The appraisal provides the market value of the easement property area before the easement is placed and the market value of the easement property area after the easement is placed. The difference in the two values shows the effect of the easement on the property or the value of the easement.

527.43 Appraiser Qualifications

A. The appraisal will be either a market value appraisal or a conservation easement appraisal, as defined in section 527.42, depending on the applicable easement program. Below are qualifications an appraiser must have to conduct each type of appraisal.

1. Market value appraisals: In accordance with Title XI of the Financial

Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989, appraisers must be a state-certified general real property appraiser or have a temporary practice state-certified general real property appraiser permit in all states where the subject property is located and be in good standing with the issuing licensing authority. The appraiser must comply with USPAP and have demonstrated competency in conducting appraisals of properties of the requested type. Appraisers whose credentials were suspended because of disciplinary action by the licensing authority of any state within the past 5 years are disqualified.

2. Conservation easement appraisals: In addition to the above requirements, appraisers must have experience conducting appraisals with and without conservation easements. Appraisers must have completed either a conservation easements valuation course or eminent domain course. A conservation easements valuation course is preferred. For appraisals completed under UASFLA, the appraiser must have completed a UASFLA course and have experience completing UASFLA appraisals.

B. For US-held easement enrollments, a copy of the appraiser’s state license documentation of the education requirements must be included with the bid submission. The contracting officer reviews the licensing credentials and experience of the contractor and must approve the contractor before work begins.

The contracting officer must contact the NRCS national appraiser to resolve any qualification questions before issuing the contract award. For appraisals being

440 M 527 Subpart E (amended April 2024) 5 acquired with a purchase card or other appropriate mechanism consult the national appraisers to review vendor qualifications before obtaining the appraisal.

C. For entity-held easement enrollments, the eligible entity is responsible for obtaining the appraisal and providing a copy to NRCS. The eligible entities must ensure the appraiser meets the qualifications before ordering an appraisal.

Appraisals completed by appraisers not meeting NRCS qualifications and statement of work will not be accepted.

D. Documentation of the appraiser’s experience and education must be included in the appraisal report for any type of appraisal.

527.44 Appraisal Reports

A. NRCS easement programs use appraisal reports to understand the property and market characteristics. Because many NRCS users will not personally inspect the property nor be familiar with the local area and market, the appraisal report must include the necessary details to explain and support the property description, highest and best use analysis, market characteristics, adjustment process, and conclusions so that all reviewers and NRCS users understand the statements, opinions, and conclusions in the report.

B. For appraisals ordered by NRCS, a project sponsor, or the eligible entity, the following information must be provided to the appraiser except where otherwise noted.

1. Recorded landowner’s name, address, and telephone number.

2. Written permission to enter the property from the landowner or an authorized representative.

3. Aerial photograph of the subject property with labels or other annotation identifying the location of the proposed easement area, access to the easement area, easement boundary, an estimate of the acres in the proposed easement, and, when available, the location and acreage of any existing agreement, contract, or easement of any type that is associated with the property.

4. Legal description of subject or parent property and preliminary legal description of the proposed easement area or survey, if available.

5. Copy of the draft easement deed for the applicable program. Do not provide a draft easement deed for ACEP-WRE or RCPP-ACEP-WRE.

Note: For all other easement types, the individual easement deed and exhibits that will be recorded must be provided.

6. Specific details of any existing easements, reservations, or other restrictions currently encumbering the subject property, as provided by the landowner.

7. Documentation of production data provided by the landowner.

8. Documentation of water rights owned, including the name of the irrigation company and the number of shares or amount of ownership, and irrigation

440 M 527 Subpart E (amended April 2024) 6 wells on the property to be appraised as provided by the landowner. If water rights are included in the easement area, documentation identifying the volume of water rights to be retained for the subject property as required by the specific NRCS easement program.

9. Current information of title of ownership, such as copies of deeds.

10. If available, completed preliminary certificate of inspection and possession, landowner disclosure worksheet, hazardous materials landowner interview, hazardous materials field inspection checklist, and any information on hazardous substances that may be found on the property to be appraised.

11. When available, copy of preliminary title commitment or report covering the proposed easement area.

12. Copy of the draft baseline documentation report, as applicable for the easement program and as available.

13. Copy of the easement management plan, conservation plan, or restoration plan of the proposed easement area, if applicable and as available.

14. Copy of the recorded written access to the easement area, evidence that the property is accessible from a public road, or NRCS-approved alternative legal access route.

15. Copy of the applicable program appraisal specifications and statement of work.

C. The following material must be stored in the hardcopy easement case file in fireproof and waterproof safes or filing cabinets. Electronic copies must be stored in the appropriate easement business tool (e.g., National Easement Staging Tool or Conservation Desktop):

1. A copy of the approved appraisal.

2. Technical review report approving the appraisal.

3. Any national appraiser approval of an appraisal and technical review.

4. A copy of any update to an appraisal, if applicable.

527.45 Confidential Nature of Appraisals

A. Appraisers must abide by the confidentiality provisions of the ethics rule of

USPAP.

B. Appraisals obtained by NRCS are not releasable to anyone before acquisition of the easement.

C. Appraisers must identify any information in the appraisal report that is proprietary sensitive or that must be kept confidential.

D. After the appraisal is accepted by NRCS and acquired the easement, the public may request to see the appraisal report under the Freedom of Information Act, which may result in the release of all or part of the appraisal report to the public.

440 M 527 Subpart E (amended April 2024) 7

The landowners may request a copy of the appraisal under the Privacy Act after acquisition.

527.46 Appraisal Expiration, Changes, and Updates

A. Appraisals may be revised because of significant changes in acreage due to survey or configuration; expiration of the appraisal before obligation; identification of access or other title issues that may affect the easement value; or, for ACEP-ALE, RCPP-ACEP-ALE, or RCPP, changes to the conservation easement deed terms.

Revision may also be needed to update value estimates, provide additional support or explanation, or correct a previous report.

1. The appraiser who completed the original appraisal may be required to update the original appraisal if:

a. The useful life of the appraisal (normally 12 months) needs to be extended to allow more time for obligation; or

b. A survey indicates that the acreage, footprint of the easement, or access, title, or deed terms have changed and NRCS has determined that these changes are within scope.

2. The appraiser will provide an update to the appraisal as part of a new assignment. Per USPAP, a more current value or analysis of a property that was the subject of a previous assignment does not extend that assignment.

Rather, it creates a new appraisal assignment that must be completed as discussed in USPAP Advisory Opinion 3 (AO-3):

3. USPAP AO-3 allows three options for the appraiser to satisfy USPAP reporting requirements. The appraiser may provide a new report that: 1) does not incorporate the previous report, 2) incorporates by attachment specified information or analysis from the previous report, or 3) incorporates by reference specified information or analysis from the previous report. The appraiser decides which option to use.

4. New, revised, and updated appraisals must meet the applicable NRCS appraisal specifications and incorporate the identified changes. Generally, new appraisals or updates to a previous appraisal will need a technical review (see Subpart F for more information).

B. Validity Period. Only appraisals with a current date of value (effective date) and, as applicable, an approved technical review, and as required an approved national appraiser review are valid for NRCS easement programs. The appraisal effective date must meet the specific program requirements as follows unless a shorter useful life is identified by the technical reviewer and approved by the national appraiser.

1. For ACEP-WRE, EWPP-FPE, Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP), and

RCPP US-held easements, the effective date of the appraisal must be within 12 months of the landowners and NRCS executing the enrollment agreement.

Once the agreement is executed by all required parties, the appraisal will not

440 M 527 Subpart E (amended April 2024) 8 expire. If an approved appraisal has an effective date older than 12 months before the agreement is executed by all parties, the appraisal is expired and a new appraisal report with a more current effective date of value is required before an offer can be made and an obligation completed.

Note: For EWPP-FPE enrollments using the pre-disaster date as the effective date, the appraisal will not expire once the technical review is approved.

2. For entity-held easements, the effective date of the appraisal must be no earlier than 12 months before the parcel’s obligating document is executed or modified to identify a substitute parcel and must be before the closing date of the easement on the parcel.

a. Entities that are considering applying for ACEP-ALE or RCPP-ACEP-

ALE cost-share assistance are encouraged to provide the appraisers with the NRCS ACEP-ALE appraisal specifications and statement of work at the time the appraisal is acquired (see section 527.260).

b. For ACEP-ALE or RCPP-ACEP-ALE standard transactions with certified entities on parcel contracts utilizing the certified entity provisions, the appraisal will not be reviewed by NRCS before payment and closing, but a technical review or national appraiser review may be conducted after the easement is acquired as part of the quality assurance and compliance review processes.

C. Expiration. The appraisal expires when the effective date is older than the time periods specified in paragraph B above or is beyond the useful life period as stated in the technical review. If the appraisal expires, a new appraisal is required.

D. Acreage Changes and Footprint Changes. When the surveyed acreage changes the footprint or size of the original property or easement boundary, either an updated appraisal or administrative adjustment is required. The national appraisers must assist with the application of administrative adjustments as needed for situations not covered in the appraisal statement of work. Please submit requests for assistance with administrative adjustments through PAMS.

1. Acreage Changes

a. In cases where the appraisal was completed without the benefit of a legal survey and the footprint is unchanged, the acres and price may be administratively adjusted by the national appraiser.

b. An updated appraisal is required when the surveyed acreage deviates more than 10 percent from the acres in the original appraisal, unless the initial appraisal reports a specific acreage range or the national appraiser determines that an updated appraisal is not needed.

2. Footprint Changes

a. When the easement footprint reported in the appraisal has minor changes, the acres and price may be administratively reconciled by the national appraiser. Minor easement boundary changes that remain largely reflective of the original easement footprint (in terms of size, configuration, location, 440 M 527 Subpart E (amended April 2024) 9 and land type) are suitable for administrative adjustment as determined by the national appraiser.

b. An updated appraisal is required when the size of the easement footprint changes more than 10 percent or when the revised easement footprint is not similar to the original appraised footprint, unless otherwise approved by the national appraiser.

E. Substitution of Land. Substituted land requires a new appraisal. Land is considered substituted when the land proposed for the easement is different from the parcel identified in the appraisal.

F. Changes in Access or Title Conditions. Contact the original appraiser to review any access or title changes. Changes in title conditions do not include encumbrances that will be released or subordinated before closing. The original appraiser will complete an update to the previous appraisal consistent with guidance contained in USPAP AO-3.

G. Changes to Deed Terms (entity-held easements only). For appraisals conducted based on a draft easement deed, the eligible entity must provide NRCS with documentation of the effect of changes made to the final deed terms on the original appraised value before the planned easement closing date. To accomplish this, the eligible entity must obtain an update of the previous appraisal from the original appraiser. The appraisal update will be reported consistent with guidance in USPAP AO-3.

Title 440 – Conservation Programs Manual

PART 527 – Easement Common Provisions

Subpart E – Appraisal

Amended April 2024

527.40 General

527.41 Easement Programs Division Duties and Responsibilities

527.42 Appraisal Type

527.43 Appraiser Qualifications

527.44 Appraisal Reports

527.45 Confidential Nature of Appraisals

527.46 Appraisal Expiration, Changes, and Updates

U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Hazardous Materials Field Inspection Checklist

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS FIELD INSPECTION CHECKLIST

A. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

NRCS PROGRAM LANDOWNER NAME

PROPERTY ADDRESS NUMBER OF ACRES

NEST APPLICATION NUMBER COUNTY STATE

FIELD DATE INSPECTED

B. INSTRUCTIONS:

For each question, indicate if you find any evidence of past or present hazardous materials.

For any suspected evidence found, display the location on the parcel map and attach photographic evidence as an addendum to this document.

If you need more room to explain your findings attach additional sheets.

When complete, attest that a field inspection has been completed and that to the best of your knowledge the information included is accurate.

C. Field Conditions: Onsite Nearby None

1. Dumps or landfills (especially with drums/containers)

2. Other debris: household or farm waste

3. Fills (possible cover for dumps)

4. Unusual chemical odors

5. Above/below ground storage tanks

6. Buildings: chemical storage, equipment repair solvents

7. Structures: evidence of asbestos

8. Vegetation different from surrounding area for no apparent reason (e.g., stressed or dead, bare ground)

9. "Sterile" or modified water bodies

10. Oil seeps, stained ground, discolored stream banks

11. Unnatural characteristics of water: oil slicks, unusual color, etc.

12. Spray operation base: air strip, equipment parking area chemical staging, storage, and mixing areas

13. Machinery repair areas

14. Pipelines, power lines, gas lines

15. Oiled or formerly oiled roads

16. Mounted transformers - evidence of leakage

17. Any mining activity or mining residue: past, present, or future

18. Wastewater treatment equipment, septic system, sewage lagoons

Natural Resources Conservation Service Hazardous Materials Field Inspection Checklist

19. Treatment for vegetation or invasive species

20. Spills or releases of pollution D. EVIDENCE OF PAST USE (check all that are applicable)

Manufacturing

Service station

Dry cleaning

Air Strip

Pipeline

Railroad line

Facilities with large electrical transformers

Petroleum production

Landfills

Scrap metal, auto, or battery recycling

Military

Laboratories

Wood preserving

Tanning

Monitoring wells

Wells no longer providing water

Piles of soil, rock, debris

Any unnatural topographic features

Other (describe) ___________________________________________________________________

E. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF EASEMENTS OR RIGHTS-OF-WAY (power lines, pipelines, railroads, roads)

F. NEARBY LAND USES: (describe all surrounding land uses especially those upstream or upgradient)

G. CONTAMINATED SITES RECORD SEARCH:

List all known contaminant sites within a 1-mile radius of the site. Check with Federal or State environmental protection agencies and local authorities. Are there any known hazardous material problems on or near the site (National Priority List, State sites, etc.)? (Attach additional sheets as necessary)

H. INTERVIEWS: (Interviewee Name) (Title) (Interview Date)

Present Owner(s) ______________________________________________________________________

Past Owner(s) ______________________________________________________________________

County Agent ______________________________________________________________________

Natural Resources Conservation Service Hazardous Materials Field Inspection Checklist

Other Authorities ______________________________________________________________________

I. AGRICULTURAL HISTORY:

Type, Duration and Extent of Agricultural Activity:

Surface Drains Present PRESENT NOT PRESENT

Subsurface Drains Present PRESENT NOT PRESENT

J. RECOMMENDATION:

In my professional opinion and based on my inspection of the site this project should move forward:

YES NO FURTHER INVESTIGATION NEEDED

K. CERTIFICATION:

I hereby certify that on _____________________, 20_____ I made a personal examination and inspection of the tract or parcel of land identified above, and that I am fully informed as to the boundaries, lines and corners of said tract. Based upon a careful and thorough investigation and inquiry I hereby certify that the Hazardous Materials Field Inspection Checklist and the attachments are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

EXAMINER (Name and Signature)

OFFICIAL TITLE

Norma J Weaver Nathan Weber

2/11/2026